About RADAR

RADAR was founded in Rotterdam in 1983 as one of the first local antidiscrimination

agencies in the Netherlands. The agency operates in the regions of Rotterdam-Rijnmond (Rotterdam), Zuid-Holland-Zuid (Dordrecht), Midden- and West-Brabant (Breda) and Brabant-Noord

(‘s Hertogenbosch).

It undertakes research, analysis and reporting to promote equality and combat discrimination. Its research on structural forms of discrimination includes the police and justice systems as well as education and employment. RADAR also gives advice and support to citizens who wish to file discrimination complaints.

In addition, it monitors discrimination cases, using compiled data to identify key issues and inform recommendations. RADAR has a large portfolio of workshops and training courses on empowerment and how to deal with discrimination in the private, public and professional spheres.

RADAR works to promote equal treatment, to create a society that is free of social exclusion and that provides equal opportunities for all. RADAR seeks to prevent and mend cases and feelings of discrimination, participates in collaboration, and shares knowledge. Our core values are expertise, commitment, reliability and impartiality. Together we make a difference.

RADAR is the agency for equal treatment and against discrimination in the regions Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Midden- and West-Brabant, Brabant-Noord and Zuid-Holland-Zuid. RADAR assesses and monitors the enforcement of article 1 of the constitution. This section of the law guarantees the right to equal treatment and prohibits discrimination. RADAR is the authority on equal treatment in the aforementioned regions: contact point, watchdog, data base, source of information and lobbyist for equal treatment and against discrimination.

The most common forms of discrimination are based on skin colour/ethnicity , gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age and disability. RADAR operates in the sphere between desired standards and the realities of life: in real life, anyone may come across discrimination, for everyone belongs to some minority in some way. That is why we all benefit from the prevention and opposition of discrimination and exclusion.

RADAR conducts various activities to promote equal treatment and oppose discrimination:• Advice and support in case of complaints and reports of discrimination • Registration and monitoring of complaints and reports • Investigation, analysis and reporting • Advocacy and advice to institutions and organizations • Promotion of expertise and training courses• Educating and influencing the general public

RADAR is designated a public welfare institution (ANBI) by the tax authorities. Gifts to RADAR are gifts to a charitable institution and therefore tax-deductible.

Complaints

Victims and witnesses of discrimination can lodge their complaint here. Are you being discriminated against at work, at school or on the street? Or have you witnessed someone being discriminated against? Please lodge your complaint at RADAR. RADAR provides advice and support in case of discrimination on the basis of skin colour/ethnicity, religion/belief, gender, sexual orientation, age and disability.

Lodging a complaint

RADAR will assist anyone who is faced with discrimination. If, for example, you have been treated disrespectfully by shop personnel, bullied at work or refused admittance by pub or club bouncers and you suspect that discrimination was involved; or if your neighbour is being abusive or you have come across discriminatory graffiti.If you witness someone else being discriminated against or any incident of this nature, you can submit a report. You can also contact us if all you want is for the incident to be registered officially. When in doubt about whether or not an incident involves discrimination, please contact us: we will discuss it with you and help you decide what to do.

Procedure

If you lodge a complaint with us, we will first go over the incident with you and ascertain what actually happened. Are there any witnesses? Are company employees acting on their own initiative, or is the company policy itself discriminatory? Next, we will advise you on ways to address the complaint. We will also discuss the ways in which RADAR will be able to support you.

What steps can be taken depends on the nature of your complaint, your wishes and expectations and on legal options. RADAR favours the so-called dialogue model. This means that RADAR wants to give accused persons or organizations the opportunity to present their point of view. If a dialogue is not possible or advisable, there are other options. Perhaps you would like to talk to the accused; we can bring in a mediator, initiate a complaint procedure, investigate further, seek media or political attention, or initiate legal action. The advice and support RADAR provides in regard to a complaint procedure is free of charge. Your name and other personal data stay confidential. It’s also possible to lodge a complaint anonymously.

Registration

All complaints and reports are entered into a registration programme. This information, together with other data obtained from newspaper articles, queries and discrimination reports, is analysed to track developments and trends. The analysis allows RADAR to advise authorities and policymakers. The information is also combined with the data of other anti-discrimination agencies in the Netherlands. RADAR registers the incident and the subsequent action taken, but omits your personal data.

Complaints and reports outside our region

RADAR handles complaints about discrimination in the regions Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Midden- and West-Brabant, Brabant-Noord and Zuid-Holland-Zuid. For complaints about incidents in other municipalities, please contact an affiliated agency. If you want to lodge a complaint at RADAR, please complete the complaint form.